All around Montreal, people are wearing poppies.  At first I saw it on a few people and thought it was a red pin.  Then I saw more people wearing them, and then I saw it closer — it is a fabric flower pinned to coat lapels.  Then I noticed distinguished veterans offering them for donations throughout the city.  Now I see them everywhere, a sea of people in the metro, down the streets, in the crowds, at restaurants, all around poppies are surrounding me.  It is a pretty poignant picture.

The poppies are being worn to commemorate brave Canadian men and women in the armed services, especially during the time of war.  As there are troops currently in Afghanistan from Canada, the significance is heightened.  I was moved by all the poppies, a constant reminder of sacrifices and honor.  It is also interesting to see how evolved our perception is of war, by remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and to reexamine they ways that we achieve the goals of war, without the killing.

Veteran’s Day, or Remembrance Day, as it is called in Canada falls on the same day that Baha’i's celebrate the birth of Baha’u'llah, the founder of the Baha’i’ Faith.  Taking some time today to reflect about the two events, I thought alot of the evolution of humankind in the way we approach world issues.  Baha’u'llah brought new spiritual and social teachings for our time.  The essence of his message is unity — he states “the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens,  and the ones of God, religion, sexes, races, and the human family.

Now is the time for us to live in unity.